LOW ROAR, HOUSE IN THE WOODS

In 2010, Ryan Karazija relocated from California to Reykjavík, Iceland. The quiet, stark landscapes of the country mirrored his introspective nature and became central to his identity as an artist, as he embraced solitude and personal discovery through his work. In 2011, he released his first new music under the name Low Roar. In time, he was joined by musicians Leifur Björnsson and Logi Guðmundsson. Over the next ten years, Low Roar released five albums. Then in 2022, Karazija passed away at age 40 from complications of pneumonia. Soon after, Björnsson and Guðmundsson made known that a sixth album had been completed before Karazija’s passing. Now, three years later, that album, House in the Woods, has been released.

It has been said that Karazija poured his soul into this album, combining minimalist indie, ambient sounds, and deeply personal lyrics. With themes of isolation, nature, and reflection, his songs offer a glimpse into Karazija’s inner world—one that I found to be poignant and moving. On the closing, title track, he sings, “And I'm beginning to drown. I'm staring death in the eyes. You were the rock that I needed. You were the tree I would climb. Now I'm a passing thought. And I'll try to survive. And I will write what I've seen. Will you read what I write? My endless love.” There’s a heavy sense of longing in Karanzija's words, echoing through the subdued, melancholic tones of the album. Released posthumously, it all feels hauntingly bittersweet—a powerful and fitting farewell.